Score shield and anti-implosion ring



June 3, 1969 F. J. sTEc 3,447,713

SCORE SHIELD AND ANTI-IMPLOSION RING Filed Nov. 5, 1967 INVENTQRFREDERCK J. STEC United States Patent O M SCORE SHIELD ANDANTI-IMPLOSION RING Frederick J. Stec, Oak Lawn, Ill., assigner toContinental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled Nov. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 680,472 Int. Cl. B65d .77/20 U.S. Cl.220--54 9 `Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates toan easy opening container of the type wherein one end has substantiallythe entire end panel thereof removable during the opening thereof. Theend panel is reinforced by a pliable ring which is positioned inunderlying relation to the end panel and projecting into the removablepanel portion so as to both reinforce the end panel along the score linethereof and to prevent implosion during opening when the pressure withinthe container is less than atmospheric.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in easyopening containers, and more particularly to a container of the easyopening full opening type.

A primary feature of this invention is to provide a ring which ispositioned within the container in underlying relation to the end panelof an easy opening end thereof with the ring engaging the end panel indirect underlying relation to the score line thereof so as to reinforcethe end panel at the score line and prevent accidental rupture thereofalong the score line.

Another feature of the invention is that the ring is formed of a pliablematerial and while it underlies the removable panel portion, theresistance thereof to deiiection of the removable panel portion into theinterior of the container is not sufficient to prevent the movement ofthe removable panel portion into the interior of the container duringthe normal opening thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an easy opening containerwith a pliable ring which directly underlies the end panel of thecontainer end and which supports the end panel in underlying relation tothe normal score line which defines a removable panel portion, the ringserving -both to prevent accidental rupture of the end panel along thescore line and the uncontrolled movement of the removable panel portioninto the container due to the pressure within the container being lessthan atmospheric pressure.

A further feature of the invention is the shaping of the pliable ring soas to be seated within the container at the intersection of the endpanel wtih the body Wall and with the body wall being provided with abead for the purpose of locating the ring.

A still further feature of the invention is that the ring may beadhesively bonded to the underside of the end panel.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top perspective view of a can formed inaccordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongthe line 2 2 of FIGURE 1 and shows the specific details of one form ofthe invention.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and showsthe relationship of the pliable ring 3,447,713 Patented June 3, 1969relative to the removable panel portion during the initial opening ofthe can.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the upperportion of the can of FIGURE 1 and shows the same with the removablepanel portion removed.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a modifiedform of ring construction.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIGURE 1 a container or can 10. The can 10 includes abody 11 of which only the upper portion is illustrated. The lowerportion of the body 11 is closed in the conventional manner. The upperend of the body 11 is closed by means of an easy opening end, which isgenerally referred to by the numeral 12, and which is secured to thebody 11 by means of a conventional double seam 13.

The end 12 includes the usual chuck wall 14 and end panel 15. The end 12is of a conventional full opening type and the end panel 15 thereof isprovided with a peripheral score line 16 defining a removable panelportion 17 which constitutes a major portion of the end panel 15.

In order to facilitate the initial rupture of the end panel 15, theremovable panel portion 17 is provided with an integral rivet 18 bymeans of which a pull tab 20 is secured thereto. The pull tab 20 isutilized to initially place a downwardly or inwardly directed force onthe removable panel portion 17 along a starting portion of the scoreline 16 suicient to effect the initial rupture of the end panel. Afurther movement of the pull tab 20 will result in a folding or bendingof a part of the removable panel portion 17 down into the interior ofthe can. After this occurs, an upwardly or outwardly directed pull onthe pull tab 20 will result in the complete tearing out of the removablepanel portion 17.

The can 10, as described above, has several deficiencies. In the firstplace, because the end panel 15 is weakened by the provision of thescore line 16, there is always the possibility of accidental rupture ofthe end panel along the score line. Secondly, when a product is vacuumpacked Within the can 10, due to the differential in pressure betweenthe interior of the can and the exterior thereof, there is a danger ofimplosion immediately after the initial rupture of the end panel. Afurther disadvantage of the can is the existence of the raw edgeresulting from the tearing out of the removable panel portion 17.

In accordance with this invention, the three enumerated disadvantagesmay be overcome by the simple provision of a pliable or resilient ring21. The ring 21 which is generally triangular in section, is positionedwithin the body 11 at the intersection between the body 11 and the endpanel 15. In order to facilitate the positioning of the ring 21 withinthe can 10, the upper portion of the body 11 is provided with a radiallyinwardly directed bead 22 which is spaced axially from the end panel 15.The bead 22 is so related to the dimensions of the ring 21 and to theend panel 15 so as to provide for a clamping of the ring 21 between theend panel and the bead. At the same time, it is to be noted that thering 21 is of a dimension to project radially inwardly of the score line16 a slight distance. At this time, it is pointed out that the bead 22also serves to facilitate the initial positioning of the ring 21. Thering 21 may be placed within the body 11 prior to the closing thereof bythe application of the end 12.

It will be readily apparent from FIGURE 2 that the ring 21 provides asupport for the end panel 15 in the vicinity of the score line 16,thereby reinforcing the end panel 15 against accidental fracture alongthe score line 16. On the other hand, the ring 21 is suflicientlypliable so as to deflect downwardly, as is shown in FIGURE 3, during theopening of the can 10.

It is to be understood that when the pull tab 20 is lifted to effect theinitial rupture of the end panel 15 along the score line 16, the ring 21will resist the inward movement of the removable panel portion 17. Thisresistance will be sufficient to prevent the undesired implosion whichfrequently occurs due to a diierential in pressure between theatmosphere and the interior oi the can when the can 10 is a vacuumpacked can. However, the ring 21 will be sutliciently pliable to permitthe inward bending or folding of the removable panel portion 17utilizing the pull tab 20 to provide for a suiicient initial rupture ofthe end panel to provide for a tearing out of the removable panelportion 17 by a later applied outwardly directed pull on the pull tab20.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that after the removablepanel portion 17 has been torn from the end panel and the can 10 h-asbeen fully opened, the ring 21 has returned to its original position. Atthis time it functions as a guard against accidental contact with a rawedge 23 which now exists around the inner periphery of the end panel 15.However, the ring 21 does not project radially inwardly sucently tounduly obstruct the removal of a product from the can 10.

It is to be understood that the ring 21 may be formed of an attractivematerial, such as plastic, or a rubber-type material which will in noway detract from the appearance of the can and the product packagedtherein. Also, because lthe ring 21 remains clamped between the endpanel 15 and the bead 22, there is no possibility of the bead beingaccidentally removed with the product. If desired, a suitable adhesive(not shown) may be applied to the ring 21 to bond the ring to the body11 or the end panel 15 or both.

ln FIGURE 5 there is illustrated a slightly modified form of canconstruction, which can is generally referred to by the numeral 30. Thecan 30 includes a` body 31 of a conventional type, which body has theupper end thereof closed by means of the easy opening end 12. It is tobe noted that the body 31 is cylindrical as opposed to being providedwith a bead, such as the bead 22.` Accordingly, it is not feasible toapply a ring, such as the ring 21. Accordingly, the can 30 is providedwith a modiiied form of ring which is identified by the numeral 32. Thering 32 is directly bonded to the underside of the end panel 15 by meansof a suitable adhesive 33.

It is to be noted that the ring 32, while it does directly engage theend panel 15 beneath the score line 16 does not directly engage theremovable panel portion 17. Instead, the ring 32 is notched as at 34 topermit a slight downward or inward movement of the removable panelportion 17 before it contacts the ring 32. The axial inward movement ofthe removable panel portion 17 will only be suicient to permit theformation of an opening in the end panel 15 of a size to permit theventing of the can 30. Thus, -the ring 32 will prevent any possibilityof implosion.

It is to be understood that the ring 32 is also formed of a suicientlypliable and resilient material so as to be deflectable under a pressureapplied by the pull ta-b so as to permit suicient inward bending orfolding of the removable panel portion 17 to release a starting portionthereof whereby further rupture of the end panel 15 and the tearing outof the removable panel portion 17 may be eiected.

It is also to be noted that Ithe ring 32, like the ring 21, remains inplace after the tearing out of the removable panel portion 17 andfunctions as a guard for the resultant raw edge.

It will be readily apparent that the configuration of the ring may bevaried from the two embodiments specifically illustrated and describedherein. Accordingly, no attempt has been made to illustrate all possibleembodiments. Therefore, it is to be understood that minor Variations maybe made in the details of the ring and its relationship to the remainderof the can without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An easy opening container including an end having an end panel, aweakening line in said end panel dening a removable panel portion, and ashield engaging said end panel along at least a starting portion of saidweakening line and protecting said weakening line, said shield beingsecured to said container solely outwardly of said removable panelportion with a free portion of said shield overlapping said removablepanel portion.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said shield is in the path ofinitial opening movement of said removable panel portion, said shieldbeing formed of resilient material and being deilectable by saidremovable panel portion.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein said shield extends entirely aroundsaid removable panel portion.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein said shield is bonded directly tosaid end panel.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the portion of said shieldoverlapping said removable panel portion is spaced from said removablepanel portion.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein said removable panel portionconstitutes a major portion of said end panel and said shield is in theform of a ring.

7. An easy opening container including an end having an end panel, aweakening line in said end panel deiining a removable panel portion, anda shield engaging said end panel along at least a starting portion ofsaid weakening line and protecting said weakening line, there being acorner between said end panel and a body of said container, and saidshield being in the form of a ring seated in said corner.

8. The container of `claim 7 wherein said body has a radially inwardlydirected bead adjacent said end panel, nd said shield engages said headand is positioned there- 9. The container of claim 7 wherein said bodyhas a radially inwardly directed bead adjacent said end panel, and saidshield engages said bead and is positioned thereby, said bead beingtriangular in section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,723,778 ll/ 1955 Rabak 220-48GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R.

